Image of the Day: Original concept art for the Ark from Raiders of the Lost Ark

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It’s one of the most iconic props in cinema lore, and here’s what the iconic Ark from 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark almost looked like.

A piece of concept art created by Joe Johnston for the Steven Spielberg classic has surfaced, revealing one of the original design sketches for what would eventually become the Ark at the center of the fan fave Indiana Jones tale.

So, how does it look? For the sake of comparison, the film-used version is above and the concept sketch is below. Johnston’s sketch appears to actually have more ornate detail than the final version, and the angels at the top are facing a different direction. The sides also feature a lot more design character in the sketch.

If nothing else, this is a rare peek behind the scenes of a film that would go on to spawn one of the biggest and most beloved franchises in film history. Check out the concept design below and let us know which one you prefer: